May 2, 2008
Arrests Prompt Protest Sign; Noise Complaint Led to Multiple Arrests
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – A hand painted sign has stirred a student versus HPD controversy. The sign reading: “Arrest Murderers Not College Students” hung in front of a house where seven students were arrested late Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
The accounts differ --- the students claim the police picked a fight and that they were dispersing (just not fast enough) and the police claim their commands were ignored. Charges include disorderly conduct and public intoxication to battery on a police officer.
But, these students claim that fraternity or sorority parties are not broken up by officers. And, the students living at the house on fraternity row wonder if their landlord was pressured to order them to remove their First Amendment protected statement.
The incident itself occurred at about 11:50 p.m. in the 1500 block of Fifth Avenue where officers responding to a noise complaint from neighbors found about 100 students. The police report states that not only were requests to leave ignored, but officers tackled one who jumped from the porch resisting arrest. At that time, another student grabbed an officer’s arm attempting to prevent the handcuffing of the other student.
Numerous comments have been posted at the WSAZ site (http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/18386929.html#) some siding with the police and others claiming to have been present at the party stating they believe the officers overreacted. The comments suggest that that many of the partygoers were intoxicated --- at least some of them under the age of 21. One witness stating they were sober as the “designated driver” three officers of “beating” a 150 lb. kid.
Another writer condemns the sign itself, stating that the number of patrol officers responding should not be fairly compared to the number of investigators/detectives on a case.
The sign could be inferred to refer to the as yet unsolved murder of Leah Hickman, a broadcast-journalism major, whose body was found about a week after her disappearance in the apartment building where she resided on Eighth Avenue.
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Arrests Prompt Protest Sign; Noise Complaint Led to Multiple Arrests
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – A hand painted sign has stirred a student versus HPD controversy. The sign reading: “Arrest Murderers Not College Students” hung in front of a house where seven students were arrested late Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
The accounts differ --- the students claim the police picked a fight and that they were dispersing (just not fast enough) and the police claim their commands were ignored. Charges include disorderly conduct and public intoxication to battery on a police officer.
But, these students claim that fraternity or sorority parties are not broken up by officers. And, the students living at the house on fraternity row wonder if their landlord was pressured to order them to remove their First Amendment protected statement.
The incident itself occurred at about 11:50 p.m. in the 1500 block of Fifth Avenue where officers responding to a noise complaint from neighbors found about 100 students. The police report states that not only were requests to leave ignored, but officers tackled one who jumped from the porch resisting arrest. At that time, another student grabbed an officer’s arm attempting to prevent the handcuffing of the other student.
Numerous comments have been posted at the WSAZ site (http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/18386929.html#) some siding with the police and others claiming to have been present at the party stating they believe the officers overreacted. The comments suggest that that many of the partygoers were intoxicated --- at least some of them under the age of 21. One witness stating they were sober as the “designated driver” three officers of “beating” a 150 lb. kid.
Another writer condemns the sign itself, stating that the number of patrol officers responding should not be fairly compared to the number of investigators/detectives on a case.
The sign could be inferred to refer to the as yet unsolved murder of Leah Hickman, a broadcast-journalism major, whose body was found about a week after her disappearance in the apartment building where she resided on Eighth Avenue.
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Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
